Monday, September 26, 2011

Leading documentary film makers fight it out for BIFF’s top prize

Ms Nolan said the nation’s newest documentary competition, part of the Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF), has attracted an impressive array of nineteen titles from across the globe, all vying for the $25,000 prize.

In its first year, BIFFDOCS has attracted a remarkable collection of documentary titles from around the world, and Brisbane audiences will be the first in Australia to view them,” Ms Nolan said.

“It’s worth travelling to attend the festival just for this collection alone, which has attracted films that are both surprising, entertaining and thought provoking.

“Among the list of international documentaries is This Is Not A Film directed by leading Iranian dissident Jafar Panahi.

“One of South Korea’s most celebrated filmmakers, Kim Ki Duk, has also entered the competition with his disturbing autobiographical statement Arirang, winner of the 2011 Cannes Un Certain Regard section.

“Both documentaries premiered at this year’s Cannes film festival, along with The Look, a portrait of actress Charlotte Rampling; and Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom, a biography of one the legendary stars of Hollywood’s ‘golden era’.

“Four Australian documentaries are also in the running for the top prize, including The Trouble With St Mary’s, directed by Brisbane’s Peter Hegedus, On Borrowed Time, directed by David Bradbury, along with Fantome Island and Dancing With Dictators.

“Directed by Sean Gilligan, Fantome Island reveals the fascinating and moving tale of a leper colony off the coast of Cairns, while Dancing With Dictators, directed by Hugh Piper, tells the story of Australian newspaper editor Ross Dunkley, who was recently released from incarceration by the Burmese Government.”

The prize winner will be announced at the conclusion of the festival, which celebrates its 20th anniversary from 3 to 13 November 2011.

The competition will be judged by Richard Moore, Head of Screen Culture and Festival Director of BIFF, celebrated documentary film maker and producer Mark Lewis, David Tiley editor of online screen journal Screen Hub, and local filmmaker Phoebe Hart.

A full list of the 19 documentaries in the running for the BIFFDOCS competition follows.

Media contact: Justine Scarff 0400 367 174

The Trouble With St Mary’s (Australia) -- Director Peter Hegedus

Anexploration of the deep divisions in the Catholic Church, exposed by Brisbane-based priest Peter Kennedy.

Fantome Island (Australia) -- Director Sean Gilligan

Reveals the fascinating and moving tale of a leper colony run by Franciscan Missionaries of Mary off the coast of Cairns.

Dancing With Dictators (Australia) -- Director Hugh Piper

Relates the intense story of a journalist in a foreign land featuring Australian newspaper editor Ross Dunkley, who was recently released from incarceration by the Burmese government.

On Borrowed Time (Australia) -- Director David Bradbury

Eulogy? Hagiography? Filmmaker David Bradbury captures maverick Australian director Paul Cox in between life and death.

This Is Not A Film (Iran) – Director Jafar Panahi

The latest effort from the Iranian director, famously smuggled from Iran to France on a USB thumb drive inside a cake to make it to the Cannes Film Festival in May.

Arirang (South Korea) -- Director Kim Ki Duk

Film-maker Kim Ki-duk’s controversial autobiographical effort, in which he interviews himself in a part confessional, part premature obituary.

The Look (France) – Director Angelina Maccarone

A portrait of acclaimed actress and international treasure Charlotte Rampling, examining her five-decade film career.

Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom (France) – Director Ian Ayres

A biography of one the legendary stars of Hollywood’s “golden era”, Tony Curtis, who passed away in 2010.

You’ve Been Trumped (United Kingdom) –Director Anthony Baxter

An intimate look at the business machinations of Donald Trump as he bulldozes his way to construct his own golf course.

Rebel, ratbag or freedom fighter – a portrait of Bernadette Devlin, filmed over 11 years.

A Bitter Taste Of Freedom (USA ; Russia) – Director Marina Goldovskya

The life story and political convictions of Anna Politkovskaya, the Russian journalist known for her strong convictions and defence of Chechnya. Anna was murdered in 2006, a crime that shocked the world.

Cinema Komunisto (Serbia; Montenegro) – Director Mila Turajlic

A moving cinematic tribute to a once powerful political entity, the country formerly known as Yugoslavia.

An exploration of the career and working methods of Robert Flaherty, the pioneer of documentary film making.

No More Fear (Tunisia) – Director Mourad Ben Cheikh

A documentary set inside the people’s revolution in Tunisia, the revolution that started the “Arab Spring“.

Sons Of Perdition (USA) – Director Tyler Measom

Behind the scenes in the lives of teenagers exiled from their families and community by Warren Jeffs, self-proclaimed prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in the USA.